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Monday, September 17, 2012

THE KUCHING DECLARATION

September 16, 2012 is a day which will earn its place in Malaysian history as THE day when the people took the first steps in reclaiming the power to chart the course of their destiny. We have waited many years for this day and I thank you all for being here with us to witness history in the making.

My friends and countrymen, on this momentous day 49 years ago, the countries of Sarawak and North Borneo came together with Singapore and Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia, firm in the belief that this federation would be a real partnership of four countries striving together for their mutual security, development and prosperity.

Our forefathers greeted that day with huge dreams and mighty aspirations.

Sarawak and Sabah being lands rich with oil, timber, gold, fertile lands and a harmonious and hardworking people, they had everything to look forward to. The future was brimming with the promise of a federation of vibrant, thriving countries, populated by happy, healthy and secure peoples of various races and ethnicities.

But after 49 years we ask ourselves:

Does every citizen benefit from the immense wealth of our country? Does everyone have access to the basic amenities of this modern era such as electricity, clean water and proper healthcare?

Are our lands and heritage being protected for the future generations? Are our children receiving the best educational opportunities? Are our Sarawakian and Sabahan workers highly skilled and meaningfully employed?

Have the dreams of our founding fathers been realized? Or have those dreams turned into nightmares for countless people who call this once ‘fair land’ Sarawak home?

Why are we constantly saying ‘Barang naik, barang naik’ and finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet?

Why are the Malays of Kampung Sampadi unhappy that the surrounding lands where they ‘cari makan’ were included in a lease issued to a company owned by outsiders?

Why are the Ibans of Melikin still struggling to defend their ancestral lands from the marauding plantation companies?

Why are the Kayans & Kenyahs of Baram fighting to stop the drowning of their lands by the dam builders?

Why are the people of Bakun still waiting for compensation for the lands taken from them almost 13 years ago?

What happened to our lands, forests, our trees and natural resources? I am reminded of an Indian proverb which states: “After our environment is destroyed, after all the trees are cut down, after all the rivers are polluted, after all the fishes are dead, we will realize that money cannot be eaten.”

Fellow Sarawakians, in 1915, Charles Brooke at the sitting of the State Assembly warned our forefathers that after his time as the Rajah of Sarawak,

“...others may appear with soft and smiling countenances, to deprive you of what is solemnly your right – and that is, the very land on which you live, the source of your income, the food even of your mouths? If this is lost to you, no amount of money could recover it.

He continued,

“Unless you follow this advice you will lose your birthright, which will be taken from you by strangers and speculators who will in their turn become masters and owners, whilst you yourselves, you people of the soil, will be thrown aside, and become nothing but coolies and outcasts of the island.”

And today the Rajah’s greatest fears are realized. The prophecy of the betrayal of the trusting people has come to pass. While the people slept, the thieves came softly in the night and took our lands, casting us aside.

The thieves are our own leaders

Tragically, the betrayers of the people are not strangers but our own leaders.

Sarawakians did not only have the betrayal of their own leaders to bear – on the national front, the rights which our founding fathers were so eager to safeguard and which were inscribed in the Malaysia Agreement were insidiously chipped away over the years. Those leaders who were meant to look out for our interests have been asleep on their watch. Or were they were too busy looking out for their own interests to care?

And so today, the native landowners have lost their lands, their heritage and their birthright. The citizens of Sarawak and Sabah have lost the elements of control over their own destiny, elements for which our founding fathers meticulously negotiated.

We too have a dream

My friends, in the same year as the federation of Malaysia was formed, on August 28th, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Martin Luther King Junior delivered his famous ‘I have a Dream’ speech that brought about enormous fundamental change in the discrimination and poverty that affected the African American population of America.

In this speech he said that the African American people then lived on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of wealth and material prosperity. His speech gave hope to thousands of Americans.

Today I conjure up the spirit of the “I Have A Dream” speech of Martin Luther King because our political rivals have recently called me a “Dreamer”. But it is not wrong to dream, no matter how dark the night. No matter how formidable the obstacles, it is only right that we should have a vision, for it is said that where there is no vision, the people perish.

Yes, my fellow countrymen, it is true. I too have a dream – I have a shining vision for the ordinary and downtrodden people of Sarawak.

I have a vision for a better life and a brighter future for our children and the generations to come.

In my vision, the wealth of the land is used for the benefit of ALL the people.

In my vision, the landowners reap bountiful harvests from their lands and have plentiful to eat.

In my vision, the government is led by humble leaders who serve the rakyat with integrity, never forgetting that they are but the servants of the people on whose goodwill and co-operation they are entirely dependent.

In my vision, our schools teach a first rate curriculum and our children are given every opportunity to acquire skills and qualifications to properly prepare them to face the challenges of life.

In my vision, the government provides safe and adequate infrastructure for the people and sound policies for economic development and growth

In my vision, the airwaves and television screens carry balanced and accurate news so that the people are properly informed.

In my vision, the people are free to practise the religion of their choosing without any interference from the authorities.

In my vision, the sick and infirm are given the best medical care.

In my vision, Sarawakians and Malaysians of all races who have the determination and drive are given equal opportunity to succeed and prosper.

I am told by the nay-sayers that I can only continue to dream about bringing a change to the lives of the poor and the marginalized. Those who have the most to lose are fearful of change and therefore pour scorn on my dreams, my hopes and my vision.

But I know all of you who are standing here today share my dreams. I know that the people in the far reaches of the interior hills, from Long Semadoh in Ba’ Kelalan to Kampung Rejoi-Nyegol in the Bengoh ranges share my dreams. I know that the people of the rivers, from Kapit on the Rejang River to Marudi on the Baram River share my dreams. I know that the people of the towns, from Lundu in the East to Limbang in the West share my dreams.

The dreams of our forefathers may have been crushed by the ruthless and greedy pretenders who came in the night. But we, the people of Sarawak are a resilient people. We now reject the nightmare inflicted upon us by those who have stolen from us. We have begun to revive the dreams that were dreamt for us by those who came before us. Your presence here today is testament to my unshakable belief that we all share the same dreams, that we will play our part to ensure that our beautiful country is a place where peace and prosperity prevails, where justice and fairness and equality are the right of every citizen.

An opportunity now for CHANGE

My fellow Sarawakians, as we enter the 50th year of this partnership with Malaya and North Borneo, I can see clearly the opportunity for us to achieve our dreams. Our brothers and sisters from Peninsula Malaysia are here to lend support to us as we reclaim the rights which are paramount to our welfare.

The leaders from Pakatan Rakyat have wholeheartedly consented to honour the agreement that was signed by our forefathers which, up until today, the government has preferred to ignore. These leaders are here to show their sincerity and their commitment to helping us to realize our dreams. Today, the spirit of the Kuching Declaration is ignited and will continue to glow in our hearts as a constant hope and indeed of the promise, of better days to come.

My friends, almost 50 years after Martin Luther King’s electrifying speech, America has changed beyond his expectations. In 2007, an African American named Barack Obama announced his lofty dream to the nation, proclaiming: ‘For that is our unyielding faith – that in the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.’

I call upon all of you, my friends, to be the agents of change. You hold the power to decide the direction our beloved country will take. What you choose to do on the morning of the next polling day will have immense consequences for your lives and the lives of the generations of Malaysians to come.

We face the prospect of at last creating a society that is fair and just, of having a government that recognizes the fundamental rights and privileges of all our citizens in this wonderfully rich and diverse land.

My fellow Sarawakians and Malaysians, on this day, which marks the beginning of our Jubilee year, I call upon all of you to embark upon this exciting journey with us as we forge ahead towards restoring a country that is finally strong and free, a nation where all her citizens may live in true peace and harmony.

TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE OUR DREAMS AND VISION COME TRUE!

God Bless Malaysia, God Bless us all.

THE KUCHING DECLARATION

LEST WE FORGET, AND LEST ALL THE PEOPLES OF OUR GREAT NATION OF MALAYSIA FORGET, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, DO ONCE AGAIN FIRMLY, RESOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY PLEDGE AND PROMISE BEFORE THE WHOLE NATION OF MALAYSIA AS OUR WITNESSES, ON THIS HISTORIC DAY THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2012, IN THE CITY OF KUCHING, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE PARTIES AND PAKATAN RAKYAT AS A WHOLE, THAT WHEN WE FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA, PAKATAN RAKYAT WILL HONOUR ALL ITS PLEDGES AND PROMISES TO THE PEOPLES OF MALAYSIA.

WE WILL HONOURABLY EXECUTE ALL THE POLICIES SET FORTH IN THE BUKU JINGGA SO THAT MALAYSIA WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A GREAT NATION, HER PEOPLES PROSPEROUS, HER FUTURE SECURE AND PEACEFUL, AND HER NAME CELEBRATED BY ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

WE WILL HONOUR THE SPIRIT OF THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENT OF 1963 WHICH OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THEIR HANDS TO, AND AS A SIGN OF OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLES OF SARAWAK AND SABAH, CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND JUSTICE FOR ALL MALAYSIANS, IN PARTICULAR:

ARTICLE ONE: EQUAL PARTNERS

We will restore the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement and the position of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners within Malaysia by restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution.

ARTICLE TWO: FAIR REPRESENTATION

We will increase national integration between Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia through a fair power-sharing arrangement that fully upholds the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement.

ARTICLE THREE: CITIZENSHIP

We will set up a Royal Commission to solve the perennial national problem of illegal immigration and citizenship, particularly in Sarawak and Sabah.

ARTICLE FOUR: RESTORATION OF NATIVE CUSTOMARY RIGHTS OVER LAND

We will endorse the authority already vested in the State Laws of Sarawak and Sabah to set up Land Commissions to investigate, resolve disputes, redress, survey and restore Native Customary Rights over Native Customary Lands.

ARTICLE FIVE: COMPETENT SARAWAK AND SABAH

We will endorse the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens to head Government Departments in their own respective States and by the powers vested in the State Secretaries of both States as well as give first priority to the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens at Federal Government level functioning within Sarawak and Sabah.

ARTICLE SIX: OIL JUSTICE

We will raise the royalties paid on petroleum and hydrocarbon resources to Sarawak and Sabah to 20% from the present 5%.

ARTICLE SEVEN: EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

We will bring the level of infrastructure development in Sarawak and Sabah up to par with Peninsular Malaysia.

WE, the undersigned, MAKE THIS DECLARATION AS AN INCONTROVERTIBLE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PAKATAN RAKYAT AND THE PEOPLES OF MALAYSIA, THIS HISTORIC DAY OF 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2012, ON MALAYSIA DAY, SO THAT IT MAY RING OUT RESOUNDINGLY From MALAYSIA’S high forest hills Down to the open sea; SO THAT freedom MAY ever reign; AND OUR PEOPLES Live in Unity!

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Declaration, and all the peoples of Malaysia being witnesses thereof.

Done at Kuching, this 16th day of September, 2012, in six copies of which one shall be deposited with each of the signatories.